Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Now here this verse suggests new freshness, not just a second beginning. This is the fulfillment of the prophecies in Isaiah.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

“For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “So shall your descendants and your name remain. Significantly, this eternal renewal has already begun in the life of the Kingdom citizen because, using the same term, ambassador Paul stated it this way:

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “So shall your descendants and your name remain. The present heaven and earth, including the sea, were burned up in the great white throne judgment. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them....The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.